Monday 22nd January 2018

Bentley enters Bentayga into Pikes Peak

The six-time Le Mans winner has its sights set on a production SUV record in Colorado Springs

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There's rarely a shortage of intriguing entries for Colorado's annual Race to the Clouds. The event prides itself as one of the world's most diverse motorsport fixtures, and its 12.4-mile length regularly hosts everything from WRC cars to dune buggies, trucks to sidecars, and apparently no end of vintage machinery. Manufacturers with an appropriate product to publicize have long been in on the act; Volkswagen is building its first all-electric race car this year merely to promote the general concept of EVs (with a multitude of zero-emission models waiting in the wings to reap the benefits).

All this makes the prospect of seeing a 2.5 tonne Bentley Bentayga on the start line seem fairly reasonable. The British marque has entered its W12 model in the Exhibition class, although apparently it secretly harbours ambitions of setting a new record for production SUVs. (The car is being prepared by the motorsport division, but will only be modified to satisfy the regulations rather than stripped bare.) Somewhat less of a secret is the brand's desire to put the Bentayga's performance bias firmly on the map in North America, where it needs the car to sell by the bucketload.

As a result, Crewe is taking its first entry at Pikes Peak fairly seriously. "Since its launch, the Bentayga has set the luxury SUV benchmark with its unique combination of bespoke British craftsmanship, performance and grand touring ability. We hope to set another benchmark at the 2018 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb by conquering the most demanding mountain road course in the world," said Bentley's Director of Motorsport, Brian Gush.

Of course 'conquering' the famous toll road is easier said than done. The entire route might have been paved since 2012, but there're still 156 opportunities for embarassing and/or spectacular misfortune to befall you - not to mention the power-sapping prospect of finishing at 14,110 ft. Doubtless Bentley will spend the run-up to June 24th reminding us that the Bentayga has over 600hp and 664lb ft of torque from its 6.0-litre engine and the car is underpinned by its fiendishly clever 48-volt active anti-roll system. It will need to make good use of both to make a telling impact on the Rocky Mountains.

[cydaps]

It's guaranteed to win one thing.... ugliest vehicle...

[Gandahar]

cydaps said:

It's guaranteed to win one thing.... ugliest vehicle...

Indeed, I hope they paint it black so the Yanks could mistake it for the fastest London Taxi up there.

Rather ironically the whole route is now paved, so you do not even need an "off roader" to go up there, just an SUV fatmobile with command driving position. Would rather have the old days with gravel etc, the new 500bhp V8 Defender would possibly put the smackdown on it, Battle of Britain....

[Gandahar]

I hope they have a picnic stop half way up and do a shoot with perhaps the Fortnum and Mason Edwardian 6 Person Trunk Hamper being rolled out.

Now that would add a bit of class to the run.

[Macboy]

cydaps said:

It's guaranteed to win one thing.... ugliest vehicle...

Bravo! You're the fastest, most obvious and most pointless comment winner of the day.

[Integroo]

I thought hot laps of the Nurburgring were the en vogue way of selling cars?

[LotusOmega375D]

We hope to set another benchmark at the 2018 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb by conquering the most demanding mountain road course in the world," said Bentley's Director of Motorsport, Brian Gush.

Gush by name, ...

[dvs_dave]

Integroo said:

I thought hot laps of the Nurburgring were the en vogue way of selling cars?

Not to this car’s most important market, Americans, most of whom have never heard of the Nurburgring. Pikes peak on the other hand is much more widely known. Land Rover set the production SUV “record” a few years back with the then new Range Rover Sport. Obviously Bentley can’t allow that to stand for any longer than is absolutely necessary.

[classicyanktanks]

cydaps said:

It's guaranteed to win one thing.... ugliest vehicle...

I thought it read: "Bentley enters Bentayga into s Peak" with Caravan and Driveway vehicles in tow LOL !

Edited by classicyanktanks on Monday 22 January 17:37

[PhillipM]

Meh, the magic of Pikes Peak died the minute they paved it.

[Dapster]

If they could only do the run with the driver in black tie with a chilled Pims in the cupholder....

[dunnoreally]

Am I missing something here? Who buys something like a Bentayga based on track performance? I get it for bragging rights in a hot hatch or whatever, even if you've no intention of going anywhere near a track, but a Bentayga? Why?

[Loyly]

Macboy said:

cydaps said:

It's guaranteed to win one thing.... ugliest vehicle...

Bravo! You're the fastest, most obvious and most pointless comment winner of the day.

He's not wrong though.

[AmosMoses]

At least they still have a sense of humour at Bentley, seeing this go up the mountain will be hilarious

[Vocht]

If I was to believe what I read online, it would appear that I'm the only fan of this car out there. If you want comfort, luxury and performance there isn't anything out there that'll beat it right now (in the SUV sector ofcourse)

Having said that, depreciation hasn't been kind to the Bentayga and you can now get them with less than 10k on the clock for £100k below their rrp's.

[classicyanktanks]

Vocht said:

If I was to believe what I read online, it would appear that I'm the only fan of this car out there. If you want comfort, luxury and performance there isn't anything out there that'll beat it right now (in the SUV sector ofcourse)

Having said that, depreciation hasn't been kind to the Bentayga and you can now get them with less than 10k on the clock for £100k below their rrp's.

Check out the lambo it’s awesome

[DegsyE39]

Loyly said:

He's not wrong though.

+1 He aint wrong its gopping.. Can they roll it off the side please spare my eyes?

[Macboy]

Loyly said:

Macboy said:

cydaps said:

It's guaranteed to win one thing.... ugliest vehicle...

Bravo! You're the fastest, most obvious and most pointless comment winner of the day.

He's not wrong though.

No not wrong (it isn't a beauty) but it's also not wrong to call-out the smugness that saw him rush to this article to add his mindless comment minutes after it was published. "Oh look at me, cleverly commenting about the design of a car that almost everyone thinks is either "gopping" at worst or a missed opportunity at best."

[J8 SVG]

Vocht said:

If I was to believe what I read online, it would appear that I'm the only fan of this car out there. If you want comfort, luxury and performance there isn't anything out there that'll beat it right now (in the SUV sector ofcourse)

Having said that, depreciation hasn't been kind to the Bentayga and you can now get them with less than 10k on the clock for £100k below their rrp's.

https://www.landrover.co.uk/vehicles/new-range-rover/svautobiography-dynamic/index.html

It doesn't beat this in the looks department or offroad capability

[AMGSee55]

dunnoreally said:

Am I missing something here? Who buys something like a Bentayga based on track performance? I get it for bragging rights in a hot hatch or whatever, even if you've no intention of going anywhere near a track, but a Bentayga? Why?

I guess it's just a stunt to raise brand profile etc - they've not got to the event yet and we're all discussing it